Diagnosis. This and the next species, mysalis Walker, are externally very similar, having diffuse dark brown and mauve banding that runs across fore- and hindwings. The most conspicuous band is a pale mauve one in the vicinity of the postmedial that contains the pale yellow discal spots within its basal edge. This band is distinctly oblique on the forewing and is more conspicuous in mysalis. The forewing discal spot is narrow in hypenalis but broader, slightly doubled and slightly yellower in mysalis. In mysalis there is an irregular, punctate, white submarginal fascia faintly evident on fore- and hindwings, with the brown ground distal to it slightly paler; this submarginal is further from the margin on the hindwings. In both species the labial palps are upcurved, those of the male more thickly scaled and more strongly curved closer to the head. The male antennae are not noded. The male genitalia of hypenalis are larger, slightly more elongate and with a longer saccus. The saccular process is shorter and blunter in mysalis. In the female genitalia hypenalis has a sclerotised bulbosity distally in the ductus bursae. The signum is at one third in hypenalis but central in mysalis.
Taxonomic note. Owada (1992) elucidated confusion between this species, mysalis, (see below), incongruens Butler (Japan) and jutalis Walker (Sri Lanka).
Geographical range. Indian Subregion, Taiwan, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo.
Habitat preference. The species is found infrequently in lowland forest, the highest record being from 900m.
